Sounds like if you built out a bunch of unlicensed FWA and can plausibly claim 100/20, your locations might now be protected from overbuilding, if you speak up. IMHO that would mostly mean 6 GHz. How much that’s worth I don’t know, if someone gets funded to build all around your area they would probably overbuild you anyway. The bigger advantage for FWA might be if states have to start the whole process over and this delays things 1-2 years. That plus up to 4 years buildout deadline gives you an entire FWA life cycle before getting overbuilt with fiber and it could be a decent investment.
If I didn’t get on the BEAD train originally, would I rush to now that unlicensed wireless is eligible (subject to proving you have sufficient capacity and can mitigate interference)? I don’t think so, but others might. Would providers who bid fiber decide to rebid the same areas as wireless to avoid them going to LEO? The other question is what will FISPs do if they put a bunch of effort into formulating their BEAD bids and lined up resources to deploy, maybe they already got an award from the state subject to NTIA approval? And now everything could be delayed 6 months or more likely 2 years? If I were in that situation and could get a loan or private investment to just go ahead with the projects, I would probably choose the most profitable ones and start them now without the 75% from the govt. That would create a strange situation if the locations continue to show as unserved and the state eventually awards BEAD money, maybe for fiber but maybe for LEO or fixed wireless, to overbuild your new fiber project. fiber in the adjoining more densely populated areas, you could maybe leverage that to do FWA. Very complicated situation. I feel like the changes they are making would have made a lot of sense if implemented from the very beginning. Almost 3 years down the road, it’s kind of a lose-lose situation. Everybody complains planning money has been spent and not a single customer has been hooked up, because of politics or fraud, but mostly that was the plan. Everybody criticized the FCC maps saying it was fraud by the ISPs, so they took forever to get to this point where my state, for example, just made awards for their first wave (which had to be be 100% fiber) subject to NTIA approval. How thrilled will people be if another 1-2 years go by and still not a single customer has been hooked up? But if the plan from the previous administration (and FCC and NTIA) was bad, does it make sense to just go ahead with it because everybody’s invested 2+ years in it? Good money after bad? From: AF <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jason McKemie Sent: Saturday, June 7, 2025 1:02 PM To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [AFMUG] BEAD changes It seems that while this will benefit wireless in general, the big winner is LEO providers. On Sat, Jun 7, 2025 at 7:26 AM Tyson Burris <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Its nearly a full reset. Tyson Burris President & CEO Internet Communications Inc (ICI) 739 Commerce Dr. Franklin, IN 46131 317-412-1540 (emergency/after-hours) 317-738-0320 (office) [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> www.surfici.net <http://www.surfici.net> Fixed Wireless Broadband - PtP/PtMP Solutions – Indoor/Oudoor Wifi - IP Cameras - Fiber – MDUs Active Member To The Following: <http://www.wispa.org/> WISPA <http://www.nbbc.coop/> NBBC Confidentiality Notice: This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email from your system. No Binding Agreement: This email is not a binding agreement or contract of any kind, unless it specifically states otherwise and expressly refers to a duly authorized agreement signed by both parties. Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of mine alone and do not necessarily represent those of the company. If you have any doubts about the validity or enforceability of any agreement or arrangement discussed in this email, please consult with an attorney. From: AF <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > On Behalf Of Cameron Crum Sent: Friday, June 6, 2025 7:50 PM To: AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [AFMUG] BEAD changes All good news for wireless On Fri, Jun 6, 2025, 6:19 PM Ken Hohhof <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > wrote: Any comments on the new BEAD rules released today? If I were head of a state broadband office, I would be having kittens. Yes, in theory they could do a quick nip and tuck and be right back on track to hand out money. But it doesn’t feel like it would be that easy. Or certainly not quick. -- AF mailing list [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com -- AF mailing list [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
-- AF mailing list [email protected] http://af.afmug.com/mailman/listinfo/af_af.afmug.com
